CUET English 2025’s Focus on Editorial RC and Verbal Ability: “The post of Deputy Speaker is not symbolic or optional.”
The article “The post of Deputy Speaker is not symbolic or optional.” The content includes:
- 20 Important Points summarizing the article.
- 20 Vocabulary Words with meanings.
- 20 Verbal Ability MCQs focusing on grammar, idioms, and sentence correction.
- 20 Reading Comprehension (RC) MCQs based on four passages derived from the article.
This is tailored for CUET English 2025 preparation, aligning with the focus on editorial RC and verbal ability skills.
20 Important Points from the Article
- The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is not just a ceremonial role but constitutionally mandated under Article 93.
- The role is vital for the uninterrupted functioning of the lower House of Parliament.
- In recent years, the Deputy Speaker position has often fallen into “unusual neglect.”
- Article 93 states that the House must choose both a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
- The phrasing “as soon as may be” implies urgency, not discretion, in appointing the Deputy Speaker.
- The post is not optional; the Constitution places it on equal footing with the Speaker in terms of necessity.
- Article 94 states the Deputy Speaker remains in office until resignation, removal, or cessation as a Member of Parliament.
- The Lok Sabha must function without a second-in-command to ensure stability and institutional balance.
- Historically, the position originated in the Central Legislative Assembly under British rule.
- Sachidanand Sinha was the first to hold the office in 1921.
- Post-independence, the Deputy Speaker role became an institutional fixture in 1950.
- M.A. Ayyangar was the first elected Deputy Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha in 1952.
- The Deputy Speaker fosters bipartisan respect, historically belonging to the Opposition.
- The role balances power within the House and builds trust across the aisle.
- In 2024, after the 18th Lok Sabha formed, no Deputy Speaker was elected, causing a procedural lapse.
- The delay in appointing a Deputy Speaker disregards parliamentary conventions.
- Historically, this practice promoted inclusivity and bipartisanship.
- Failing to appoint a Deputy Speaker sidelines consensus politics.
- The role of the Deputy Speaker is foundational to the system’s resilience.
- A statutory mechanism is needed to set a mandatory timeframe for electing the Deputy Speaker.
20 Vocabulary Words with Meanings
- Ceremonial – Related to formal acts or rituals; symbolic.
- Mandated – Required by law or rule; obligatory.
- Uninterrupted – Continuous, without breaks.
- Neglect – Failure to care for or pay attention to.
- Urgency – The need for immediate action.
- Discretion – Freedom to decide or act; choice.
- Constitutional – Relating to the constitution; legally established.
- Safeguard – A measure to protect or preserve.
- Colonial – Relating to a colony or colonial rule.
- Bipartisan – Involving cooperation between two political parties.
- Foster – Encourage or promote development.
- Convention – A widely accepted practice or tradition.
- Inclusivity – The practice of including diverse groups.
- Sideline – Push to the side; marginalize.
- Consensus – General agreement among a group.
- Resilience – Ability to recover or adapt quickly.
- Statutory – Required by law; legally binding.
- Vacuum – An empty space or absence of something.
- Procedural – Relating to the process or procedure.
- Balance – A state of equilibrium or fairness.
20 Verbal Ability MCQs
- Choose the correct synonym for “foster”:
a) Hinder
b) Promote
c) Ignore
d) Deny
Answer: b - Identify the antonym of “neglect”:
a) Abandon
b) Care
c) Overlook
d) Dismiss
Answer: b - Fill in the blank: The delay in the appointment _____ the importance of the role.
a) Undermines
b) Undermine
c) Undermining
d) Undermined
Answer: a - Choose the correct word: The role is not _____ but essential.
a) Optional
b) Option
c) Optionally
d) Opting
Answer: a - Identify the error: The Constitution place the Deputy Speaker on equal footing.
a) Place
b) Deputy Speaker
c) Equal footing
d) No error
Answer: a (Should be “places”) - Choose the correct idiom: The delay has thrown a _____ in the works.
a) Wrench
b) Spanner
c) Hammer
d) Bolt
Answer: b - Fill in the blank: The House must function without a second-in-_____ to ensure stability.
a) Command
b) Commander
c) Commanding
d) Commands
Answer: a - Identify the antonym of “bipartisan”:
a) Cooperative
b) Partisan
c) Collaborative
d) United
Answer: b - Choose the correct word: The role fosters _____ respect.
a) Bipartisan
b) Bipartisanship
c) Bipartisanly
d) Bipartisans
Answer: a - Identify the error: The Deputy Speaker remain in office until resignation.
a) Remain
b) In office
c) Until resignation
d) No error
Answer: a (Should be “remains”) - Choose the correct synonym for “safeguard”:
a) Endanger
b) Protect
c) Risk
d) Harm
Answer: b - Fill in the blank: The position originated in the _____ period.
a) Colonial
b) Colonially
c) Colonies
d) Colonize
Answer: a - Choose the correct idiom: The lack of a Deputy Speaker has thrown the House into _____.
a) Hot water
b) Deep end
c) High gear
d) Cold feet
Answer: a - Identify the antonym of “resilience”:
a) Strength
b) Fragility
c) Endurance
d) Stability
Answer: b - Choose the correct word: The delay raises questions about parliamentary _____.
a) Norms
b) Normal
c) Normality
d) Normalize
Answer: a - Identify the error: The role balance power within the House.
a) Balance
b) Power
c) Within
d) No error
Answer: a (Should be “balances”) - Fill in the blank: The post is a constitutional _____ to uphold democracy.
a) Requirement
b) Require
c) Requires
d) Requiring
Answer: a - Choose the correct synonym for “consensus”:
a) Disagreement
b) Agreement
c) Conflict
d) Division
Answer: b - Identify the antonym of “inclusivity”:
a) Exclusion
b) Inclusion
c) Diversity
d) Unity
Answer: a - Choose the correct idiom: The delay has put the House on _____.
a) Thin ice
b) High alert
c) Back foot
d) Front line
Answer: a
Reading Comprehension (RC): Four Passages with 20 MCQs
Passage 1: The Constitutional Role of the Deputy Speaker
The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is not a ceremonial seat but a constitutional imperative under Article 93 of the Constitution of India. This role is vital for the uninterrupted functioning of the lower House of Parliament. However, in recent years, the Deputy Speaker position has fallen into unusual neglect. Article 93 clearly states: “The House of the People shall, as soon as may be, choose two members of the House to be respectively Speaker and Deputy Speaker.” The phrasing “as soon as may be” implies urgency, not discretion. The Deputy Speaker role is not optional; the Constitution places it on equal footing with the Speaker in terms of necessity. Article 94 states that the Deputy Speaker remains in office until they resign, are removed, or cease to be a Member of Parliament. The intent is clear: the Lok Sabha must never function without a second-in-command, a constitutional safeguard to ensure stability and institutional balance.
MCQs for Passage 1
- What is the Deputy Speaker’s role according to Article 93?
a) Optional
b) Constitutionally mandated
c) Ceremonial
d) Temporary
Answer: b - What does Article 93 imply with “as soon as may be”?
a) Discretion
b) Urgency
c) Delay
d) Flexibility
Answer: b - What is the recent status of the Deputy Speaker position?
a) Highly active
b) Fallen into neglect
c) Abolished
d) Strengthened
Answer: b - Until when does the Deputy Speaker remain in office per Article 94?
a) Until re-elected
b) Until resignation or removal
c) For one year
d) Until retirement
Answer: b - Why is the Deputy Speaker role a constitutional safeguard?
a) To ensure stability
b) To increase power
c) To reduce workload
d) To limit debates
Answer: a
Passage 2: Historical Context and Importance
The roots of the Deputy Speaker position can be traced back to the colonial period in the Central Legislative Assembly under British rule, where the first to hold the office was Sachidanand Sinha in 1921. Post-independence, the Deputy Speaker had already become an institutional fixture in legislative governance by 1950. The first elected Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly was M.A. Ayyangar in 1952, a respected parliamentarian who served as the acting Speaker following the sudden death of G.V. Mavalankar in 1956. His appointment during a critical time established a precedent for the Deputy Speaker’s importance as a ready and capable replacement. Historically, the office has held symbolic importance in fostering bipartisan respect, often belonging to the Opposition. This convention—not legally binding but of the post of Deputy Speaker to the Opposition—balanced power within the House and built trust across the aisle.
MCQs for Passage 2
- When did the Deputy Speaker position originate?
a) 1950
b) 1921
c) 1952
d) 1956
Answer: b - Who was the first elected Deputy Speaker of the Constituent Assembly?
a) Sachidanand Sinha
b) G.V. Mavalankar
c) M.A. Ayyangar
d) Vinod Bhanu
Answer: c - What historical role did the Deputy Speaker play?
a) Fostering bipartisan respect
b) Leading the Opposition
c) Abolishing conventions
d) Limiting debates
Answer: a - What convention is mentioned regarding the Deputy Speaker?
a) Belonging to the ruling party
b) Belonging to the Opposition
c) Being legally binding
d) Serving for one term
Answer: b - What did M.A. Ayyangar’s appointment establish?
a) A new law
b) A precedent for capability
c) A ceremonial role
d) A temporary position
Answer: b
Passage 3: Current Challenges and Consequences
Despite its clear constitutional basis and historical continuity, the Deputy Speaker’s office has remained vacant for the entire term of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024). As of this writing, the 18th Lok Sabha, formed after the 2024 general election, has also yet to elect a Deputy Speaker. This is not a procedural lapse; it is a constitutional anomaly. Never before in India’s parliamentary history has the office remained vacant for such extended periods. The Constitution does not prescribe a rigid timeline for the election, but the phrase “as soon as may be” cannot be interpreted as “whenever convenient.” The delay raises fundamental questions about adherence to constitutional mandates and respect for parliamentary norms. Leaving the Deputy Speaker’s position vacant undermines the institutional safeguards established by the Constitution, centralizes power solely with the Speaker, and eliminates a vital counterbalance. This delay sidelines consensus politics, a key aspect of parliamentary democracy.
MCQs for Passage 3
- How long was the Deputy Speaker position vacant during the 17th Lok Sabha?
a) One year
b) Entire term (2019-2024)
c) Six months
d) Two years
Answer: b - What is the status of the Deputy Speaker in the 18th Lok Sabha as of 2024?
a) Elected
b) Not yet elected
c) Abolished
d) Appointed temporarily
Answer: b - What does the delay in appointing a Deputy Speaker represent?
a) A procedural success
b) A constitutional anomaly
c) A legal requirement
d) A minor issue
Answer: b - What does the delay undermine according to the passage?
a) Institutional safeguards
b) Speaker’s authority
c) Election process
d) Judicial power
Answer: a - What does the delay sideline in parliamentary democracy?
a) Judicial review
b) Consensus politics
c) Speaker’s role
d) Election timeline
Answer: b
Passage 4: Proposed Solutions and Future Needs
The delay in appointing a Deputy Speaker runs counter to the ethos of constitutional democracy and foresaw the importance of redundancy in leadership. Positions such as the Deputy Speaker are not afterthoughts; they are foundational to the system’s resilience. Moreover, restoring the practice of appointing a Deputy Speaker from the Opposition can help rebuild institutional credibility. In an era of increasing polarization, such a gesture would not only honour democratic convention but also inject a degree of balance into legislative proceedings. There is also a growing need for legislative reform. The ongoing vacuum raises a larger question: should the constitutional language be tightened to set a mandatory timeframe for electing the Deputy Speaker? Alternatively, a statutory mechanism could be introduced to allow the President to initiate the process within a timeframe. Either way, the current ambiguity is untenable in a functioning democracy. The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha is neither symbolic nor optional; it is a constitutionally sanctioned position designed to uphold the integrity and continuity of legislative functioning.
MCQs for Passage 4
- What does the delay in appointing a Deputy Speaker run counter to?
a) Judicial authority
b) Constitutional democracy
c) Speaker’s power
d) Election laws
Answer: b - What can appointing a Deputy Speaker from the Opposition help rebuild?
a) Judicial power
b) Institutional credibility
c) Speaker’s role
d) Election process
Answer: b - What does the passage suggest to address the vacancy issue?
a) Abolish the position
b) Set a mandatory timeframe
c) Reduce Speaker’s power
d) Increase elections
Answer: b - Who could initiate the process if a statutory mechanism is introduced?
a) The Speaker
b) The President
c) The Opposition
d) The judiciary
Answer: b - What is the Deputy Speaker’s role designed to uphold?
a) Judicial review
b) Legislative integrity and continuity
c) Speaker’s authority
d) Election timelines
Answer: b
Practice Instructions
- Time Allocation: Spend 5-7 minutes per passage (20-25 minutes total) to skim, scan, read, answer, and review.
- Application of Method:
- Skim: Note paragraph structure and key sections (role, history, challenges, solutions).
- Scan: Identify themes (constitutional duty, neglect, reform) and tones (critical, urgent).
- Detailed Reading: Annotate key points (e.g., “not optional”) and paraphrase (e.g., “as soon as may be” as urgency).
- Answer Strategically: Use evidence (e.g., “fostering bipartisan respect”) and eliminate incorrect options.
- Review: Verify answers against the passage’s focus on constitutional importance.
- Analyze Mistakes: Review errors to improve comprehension and speed.
Poem 1: “Echoes in the Digital Maze”
In circuits deep, where data streams collide,
A silent scream in pixels hides its pride,
The screen glows bright, a window to the soul,
Yet disconnects us from the world’s true whole.
Voices echo through the virtual air,
Faces masked in avatars so fair,
A like, a share, a fleeting digital cheer,
But loneliness persists beneath the glare.
The city hums with wires overhead,
Progress sings, but leaves our hearts unfed,
O digital age, with promise so grand,
Will you heal or break the human hand?
Poem 2: “Urban Shadows”
Beneath the neon lights, the city breathes,
A concrete jungle where the silence seethes,
Skyscrapers rise, reflecting human dreams,
Yet cast long shadows on forgotten streams.
The subway roars with hurried, faceless feet,
Identity lost where cultures gently meet,
A child’s laugh fades in the smog’s embrace,
Progress trades soul for a faster pace.
In glass and steel, we build our fragile throne,
But nature’s whisper calls us back to stone,
O urban sprawl, with all your gleaming might,
Can you restore the day or just the night?
Critical Analysis of “Echoes in the Digital Maze”
Themes:
This poem explores the paradox of the digital age, where technology connects yet isolates. The central theme is the tension between virtual engagement and real human connection, reflecting modern concerns about social media’s impact. The “silent scream” and “loneliness beneath the glare” highlight alienation, while the final question (“Will you heal or break the human hand?”) suggests a critique of technology’s dual potential, a common motif in contemporary poetry.
Literary Devices:
- Imagery: “Circuits deep” and “screen glows bright” evoke a technological landscape, contrasting with the “world’s true whole.”
- Personification: The digital age is personified as a entity with “promise so grand,” critiquing its seductive yet hollow allure.
- Alliteration: “Silent scream” and “digital cheer” enhance rhythm, emphasizing emotional conflict.
- Rhetorical Question: The closing query engages readers, mirroring modern debates on technology’s role.
Structure and Style:
The poem’s three quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme offer a structured yet fluid narrative, typical of modern free verse with a lyrical twist. The progression from description to critique and a hopeful/doubtful question reflects a contemporary conversational tone.
Context:
Written in a 21st-century context, the poem addresses the rise of social media, urban digitalization, and mental health issues post-2020, resonating with CUET’s focus on current global themes.
Critical Insight:
The poem’s strength lies in its relatable critique of technology, though its broad strokes might lack specificity about solutions, a common critique of modern poetry’s abstract tendencies.
Critical Analysis of “Urban Shadows”
Themes:
“Urban Shadows” examines the cost of urbanization, juxtaposing skyscrapers with lost identity and nature. The central theme is the erosion of human connection and natural harmony in the face of progress, a pressing modern concern. The “forgotten streams” and “child’s laugh fades” evoke nostalgia, while the final question (“Can you restore the day or just the night?”) questions urban sustainability, aligning with ecological and social critiques in contemporary literature.
Literary Devices:
- Imagery: “Neon lights” and “concrete jungle” paint an urban scene, while “long shadows” and “smog’s embrace” suggest decay.
- Personification: The city “breathes” and “seethes,” and nature “whispers,” attributing life to both, highlighting their conflict.
- Metaphor: “Fragile throne” symbolizes humanity’s precarious dominance over nature.
- Alliteration: “Hurried, faceless feet” and “faster pace” reinforce the urban rush.
Structure and Style:
Comprising three quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme, the poem balances modern free verse with traditional structure. The narrative moves from description to loss and a reflective query, mirroring urban life’s rhythm.
Context:
Reflecting 21st-century urbanization, climate change, and cultural homogenization (e.g., post-2000 global city growth), the poem aligns with CUET’s emphasis on contemporary issues like sustainability.
Critical Insight:
The poem’s evocative imagery and ecological focus are compelling, though its nostalgic tone might oversimplify urban complexities, a potential weakness in modern poetic critique.
Comparative Insights
- Themes: Both poems critique modern progress—technology in “Echoes” and urbanization in “Shadows”—highlighting isolation and loss, with a questioning hope for redemption.
- Poetic Devices: Imagery and personification dominate, grounding abstract themes in sensory detail. Alliteration adds rhythm, while rhetorical questions and metaphors deepen reflection.
- Structure: The quatrain form with ABAB rhyme bridges traditional and modern styles, offering accessibility and depth.
- Context: Both address 21st-century challenges (digital isolation, urban sprawl), making them relevant to CUET’s focus on current socio-cultural issues.
12 MCQs for the Poems
MCQs for “Echoes in the Digital Maze”
- What is the central image of the poem?
a) A forest
b) A glowing screen
c) A river
d) A mountain
Answer: b - What hides a “silent scream” according to the poem?
a) The forest
b) Pixels
c) The city
d) The sky
Answer: b - What literary device is used in “digital age, with promise so grand”?
a) Simile
b) Personification
c) Metaphor
d) Alliteration
Answer: b (The digital age is personified with promise.) - What emotion persists despite digital cheer?
a) Joy
b) Loneliness
c) Excitement
d) Anger
Answer: b - What does the poem suggest about technology?
a) It fully connects people
b) It may heal or break humanity
c) It has no impact
d) It is purely beneficial
Answer: b - What is the main theme of the poem?
a) The beauty of nature
b) The paradox of digital connection
c) Urban growth
d) Historical events
Answer: b
MCQs for “Urban Shadows”
- What is the setting described at the beginning?
a) A forest
b) A concrete jungle
c) A village
d) A desert
Answer: b - What fades in the smog’s embrace?
a) Skyscrapers
b) A child’s laugh
c) Neon lights
d) The subway
Answer: b - What literary device is used in “city breathes”?
a) Metaphor
b) Personification
c) Simile
d) Hyperbole
Answer: b (The city is personified as breathing.) - What does the “fragile throne” symbolize?
a) Nature’s strength
b) Humanity’s precarious dominance
c) Urban beauty
d) Technological progress
Answer: b - What does the poem question about urban sprawl?
a) Its speed
b) Its ability to restore nature
c) Its height
d) Its history
Answer: b - What is the main theme of the poem?
a) The joy of city life
b) The loss of identity and nature in urbanization
c) The power of technology
d) The beauty of skyscrapers
Answer: b
Practice Instructions
- Time Allocation: Spend 7-10 minutes per poem (15-20 minutes total) to skim, scan, read, answer, and review.
- Application of Method:
- Skim: Note 3 quatrains and ABAB rhyme in each.
- Scan: Identify themes (technology, urbanization) and tones (critical, reflective).
- Detailed Reading: Annotate devices (e.g., personification) and paraphrase (e.g., “heal or break” as technology’s dual role).
- Answer Strategically: Use evidence (e.g., “loneliness persists”) and eliminate options.
- Review: Verify against themes and context.
- Analyze Mistakes: Review errors to refine skills.
